Stuart Chaifetz said he knew something was wrong when his 10-year-old son Akian started acting out school. Akian has autism, but had always been "sweet and non-violent." So when things took a turn, his dad said he wanted to find out why.
When meetings with school officials at his Cherry Hill, N.J., school and therapists failed, he took action into his own hands. He wired Aikan and sent him to school. The six hours of audio he recorded confirmed his worst fears.
More from The Stir: School That Allowed Students to Bully Autistic Kid Is Reprehensible
He says his son was "verbally tormented and humiliated" and he's launched an aggressive campaign online to bring awareness to the case. In a 17-minute YouTube video, he outlines just what happened and plays some of damning audio clips. From one of the teachers calling Akian a "bastard" to the yelling and demeaning tone of voice they use toward the children, it's pretty tough to hear.
After taking the tape to the school board, one aide was fired, but the two others heard on the tape (an aide and a teacher) were not. He doesn't think that's good enough and has started an online petition for their dismissal and the dismissal of any teacher who treats children in such a manner.
No child should have to suffer humiliation at the hands of the people who are supposed to protect them. When a teacher bullies a child, especially one with Special Needs, they need to be immediately fired. No excuses. No second chances. No more teacher/bullies.
Sadly bullying is a major problem for autistic children (one recent study found that 63 percent report having been bullied), so when teachers -- who are supposed to care for and nurture students -- add to the pain, it's unthinkable. But clearly, based on this and plenty of other examples we see, it happens. Bravo to Stuart Chaifetz for taking such aggressive action to help stop it.
He doesn't want money; he says he's not going to file a lawsuit. He simply wants to reclaim some of his son's dignity and stop teachers from bullying some of the most vulnerable students. Who can argue with that?
Do you find this dad's actions brave? Are you outraged over the audio he caught and the way his son was treated?
Image via YouTube
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Comments 229
i HAVE SHARED THIS ON MY PERSONAL FACEBOOK PAGE....I DO NOT PERSONALLY KNOW ANY ONE THAT IS AUTISTIC CHILD OR ADULT ALL BULLING HAS TO STOP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If I were in the school as an aide or whatever, you bet your ass I would stand up for a kid, even if it meant losing my job.
As a parent I have stood up for my own children, as a friend I stood up to my own friends for calling daughters "little bitches" to their faces for interrupting to ask a question, and I have stood up to strangers in the mall for smacking their kid in the face.
Someone, somewhere needs to help.
Its one thing to backsass an adult that can stand up for themselves, but to pick on a child is deplorable
I have an Autistic brother and last year the schools tried to hold him back in the 3rd grade even though he is a straight A honor roll student saying that his Autism was a social handicap. It took the entire school board, AEA agency, and meeting with the principal/superintendant before they let him advance to the 4th grade. They have now gotten him an autism specialist that he sees one hour a day. My mother has been advocating for him all year. I think Autism awareness and education needs to be taught in all the schools and all teachers should have to take courses on how to deal with these children. Why would you go to college for so many years to help children if this is the kind of person you are going to become and these are the kinds of horrific things youre going to do to children. Thats sadistic. Poor Akain.
Also, I did sign the petition & share this on facebook and will continue to do so. We have enough bully/suicide stories happening from kid on kid violence, what do we do/where do we turn when the teachers are in on the action. I think my friends have the right idea with home schooling. yeesh.